On my last post a few weeks ago, I was thinking of getting this pretty nice '73 Karmann-Ghia but I decided against it and got a '67 Beetle. It was rebuilt about 8,000 miles ago and it now has a 1600 from the early 70's. Well, I was about to load up the family for an evening drive when I saw oil dripping from the hood. Somewhere inside the hood, oil is spraying all over. Any suggestions what it may be? Also, it is normal for the emergency flashers to work and not the brake lights?
Was wondering if some villain had stuck an engine in the front of the beetle!. In Aust, hood refers to the front of car. With the brake lights there is a pressure switch on master cylinder, short out both wires with ig on as Dave suggests and lights should work. No ones overfilled the oilbath air cleaner have they? John
Thanks for all of your replies. It is easier for me to respond to all at one time than to all individually. I ran the engine with the hood up and I couldn't see any oil spraying from anywhere. I just saw the oil that was already there. I drove it about 10 miles and I don't see any new oil spray. And yes, the dipstick 3/4 oil so it hasn't sprayed all out. I will have more time this weekend to investigate further. For the brake lights, I hope it is a simple fix because I need to get inspected and registered. Thanks again.
If you find the solution please post it. My '65 has had a constant fine layer of oil covering the engine compartment and I have checked EVERYTHING and resealed and put on a different pully, etc. Nothing has caused it to go away. KWW
Claen the engine campartment very well so you can see where the oil may becomming from, if the oil cooler seals are bad you will have a leak on the left side below the carb around the oil sensor...the pullell rotation blows it around. Weak piston rings will cause high case pressure, try doing a compression test. with the engine running and rev'd see if you get alot of oil comming from the oil pressure vent tube next to the oil filler.(a heavy mist will indecate to much case pressure.
most of the aluminum aftermarket pulleys are junk and will let oil by, try replaceing with a good stock pulley.
As far as break lights 1st check balbs then pull one of the plugs from the master cylender and use a jumper to close the circuit with the key on your brake lights should be on without pushing the pedel. If not look at the conection of the black/red wire on the fuse block (second from the left when looking at it under the bonnet. or the connection 54 on the emergency light relay. (67 only)
I think you are only supposed to add one pint of oil to bring it up from the lower mark on the dipstick to the upper mark.
It is not uncommon for the brake light switches to go out about every
3 years.
This weekend, I will clean the engine, run it for a while at see if I can spot where the leak is from. I sent images of my engine compartment to a VW parts guy and he saw that one of the hose which is supposed to attached to the stock air cleaner is attached to the fan housing instead. Someone before me put on one of those small circular aircleaners which I will remove. As for the brakes, I will attempt that this weekend also. I just haven't had the time this week to chase these problems down. Thanks again all for the responses.
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